Preparing hydrocarbon products



Patented June 25, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES JAMES SIMPSON, F LINDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARDOIL DEVELOP MENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PREPARING HYDROCARBON PRODUCTS.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to the preparation of petroleum distillates, andmore particularly finishing light products.

, Various undesirable compounds occur in petroleums of different sourcesand impart in some cases detrimental characteristics to the products.Certain naphthas, for instance, contain organic sulfur compounds of moreor less malodorous character and are sour,

according to refiners terminology. Other naphthas, for instance, may notbe sour, but may exercise a. corrosive action on copper, due to presenceof sulfur in combinable form.

In accordance with the present invention petroleum distillates withobjectionable con stituents, as aforementioned, can be advantageouslyand simply brought to a satisfactory condition.

The practice of the invention will be illustrated by an example whichsets forth the principle involved: A cracked naphtha distillate, nottreated with sulfuric acid, which contained constituents causing it tobe sour, was treated with about 1% of a sodium plumbite solution ordoctor solution made by dissolving about 1 lb. of litharge in 3 gals. of15 B. aqueous caustic soda solution. By sodium plumbite or doctorsolution I mean any of the solutions of lead oxide in caustic alkalithat are suitable for use in treating hydrocarbon oils. After thoroughagitation, settling was allowed to occur and the doctor solution wasdrawn off below. The naphtha was then sweet. This used doctor solutionwas now in turn mixed in the proportion of about 5% with a naphthacontaining corrosive sulfur, and after thorough agitation, settling wasallowed to occur and the doctor solution was drawn off below. Thisnaphtha was then free from corrosive action.

In general usage it will be understood that the proportions of treatingagent may be varied in accordance with the requirements of particulardistillates to be treated.

I am, at present, unable to state just what the ultimate mechanism ofthe action is, and without committing myself definitely to any theory,merely suggest that the organic sul- Application filed January 30, 1924.Serial No. 689,590.

fur compound in the sour naphtha appears to react with the lead-sodacompound of the doctor solution to form an unstable compound with whichthe sulfur of corrosive naphtha in turn can readily combine. It is wellunderstood in the art that such sulfur cannot ordinarily be removed bytreatment with the usual doctor solution.

It is important that the sour distillate or sour cracked distillateshould not be treated with sulfuric acid before receiving the doctorsolution treatment; and it is desirable that the doctor solution whichhas been used on the sour distillate should be used within a few daysfor treating the corrosive distillate, since the active compound isunstable, and on standing gradually spontaneously decomposes and thesolution is then inert.

While I have described my invention by reference to certain specificdetails, it will be understood that this is illustrative, and thatchanges can be made which come within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

IVhat I claim is:

1. The process of preparing petroleum distillates, which comprisessubjecting a sour naphtha distillate to the action of a sodium plumbitesolution, separating the said solution, and then subjecting a naphthadistillate containing corrosive sulfur to the action of the samesolution.

2. The process of preparing petroleum distillates, which comprisessubjecting a naphtha distillate, containing sulfur in corrosive form tothe action of a sodium plumbite solution previously used to treat a sourc 'ackcd naphtha.

3. The process of preparing petroleum distillates, which comprisessubjecting a distillate containing sulfur in corrosive form to theaction of a sodium plumbite solution which has been used to treat a sourdistillate.

4c. The process of preparing a non-corrosive petroleum distillate, whichcomprises treating a corrosive distillate with a sodium plumbitesolution containing constituents of a sour petroleum oil.

JAMES SIMPSON.

